French Words and Expressions in English
Learn the true meanings of French words and expressions commonly used in English
French Influence in English | French Words in English | Quiz

Over the years, the English language has borrowed a great number of French words and expressions. Some of this vocabulary has been so completely absorbed by English that speakers might not realize its origins. Other words and expressions have retained their "Frenchness" - a certain je ne sais quoi which speakers tend to be much more aware of (although this awareness does not usually extend to actually pronouncing the word in French). The following is a list of French words and expressions which are commonly used in English.

French Literal meaning Notes
adieu until God Used like "farewell": when you don't expect to see the person again until God (when you die and go to Heaven)

agent provocateur provocative agent A person who attempts to provoke suspected individuals or groups into committing unlawful acts

aide-de-camp camp assistant A military officer who serves as a personal assistant to a higher-ranking officer

aide-mémoire memory aid 1. Position paper
2. Something that acts as an aid to memory, such as crib notes or a mnemonic devices


à la carte on the menu* French restaurants usually offer a menu with choices for each of the several courses at a fixed price (how to read a French menu). If you want something else (a side order), you order from the carte.
*Note that menu is a false cognate in French and English.
à la mode in fashion, style In English, this means "with ice cream" - apparently someone decided that having ice cream on pie was the fashionable way to eat it.

amour-propre self love Self respect

apéritif cocktail From Latin, "to open"

après-ski after skiing The French term actually refers to snow boots, but the literal translation of the term is what is meant in English, as in "après-ski" social events.

à propos (de) on the subject of In French, à propos must be followed by the preposition de. In English, there are four ways to use apropos (we leave out the accent and the space): 1. Adjective - appropriate, to the point: "That's true, but it's not apropos."
2. Adverb - at an appropriate time, opportunely: "Fortunately, he arrived apropos."
3. Adverb/Interjection - by the way, incidentally: "Apropos, what happened yesterday?"
4. Preposition (may or may not be followed by of) - with regard to, speaking of: "Apropos our meeting, I'll be late"; "He told a funny story apropos of the new president."

art déco decorative art Short for art décoratif

art nouveau new art Characterized by flowers, leaves, and flowing lines

attaché attached A person assigned to a diplomatic post

au contraire on the contrary Usually used playfully in English.
au fait conversant, informed Au fait is used in British English to mean "familiar" or "conversant": She's not really au fait with my ideas.

au gratin with gratings In French, au gratin refers to anything that is grated and put on top of a dish, like breadcrumbs or cheese. In English, au gratin means "with cheese."

au jus in the juice Served with the meat's natural juices.

au naturel in reality, unseasoned In this case naturel is a semi-false cognate. In French, au naturel can mean either "in reality" or the literal meaning of "unseasoned" (in cooking). In English, we picked up the latter, less common usage and use it figuratively, to mean natural, untouched, pure, real.

au pair at par A person who works for a family (cleaning and/or teaching the children) in exchange for room and board

aux trois crayons with three crayons Drawing technique using three colors of chalk

avant-garde before guard Innovative, especially in the arts

avoirdupois goods of weight Originally spelled averdepois

bête noire black beast Similar to a pet peeve: something that is particularly distasteful or difficult and to be avoided.

billet-doux sweet note Love letter

blond
blonde fair-haired This is the only adjective in English which agrees in gender with the person it modifies: blond is for a man and blonde for a woman. Note that these can also be nouns.

bon appétit good appetite The closest English equivalent is "Enjoy your meal."

bon vivant good "liver" Someone who lives well, who knows how to enjoy life.

bon voyage good trip English has "Have a good trip," but Bon voyage is more elegant.

brunette small, dark-haired female The French word brun, dark-haired, is what English really means by "brunette." The -ette suffix indicates that the subject is small and female.

café au lait coffee with milk Same thing as the Spanish term café con leche

carte blanche blank card Free hand, ability to do whatever you want/need

cause célèbre famous cause A famous, controversial issue, trial, or case

cerise cherry The French word for the fruit gives us the English word for the color.

c'est la vie that's life Same meaning and usage in both languages

chaise longue long chair In English, this is often mistakenly written as "chaise lounge" - which actually makes perfect sense.

chargé d'affaires charged with business A substitute or replacement diplomat

chef d'oeuvre chief work Masterpiece

cheval-de-frise Frisian horse Barbed wire, spikes, or broken glass attached to wood or masonry and used to block access

cheval glace horse mirror A long mirror set into a moveable frame

chic stylish Chic sounds more chic than "stylish."

cinéma vérité cinema truth Unbiased, realistic documentary filmmaking

comme il faut as it must The proper way, as it should be

cordon sanitaire sanitary line Quarantine, buffer zone for political or medical reasons.

coup de grâce mercy blow Deathblow, final blow, decisive stroke

coup d'état state blow Overthrow of the government

crème brûlée burnt cream Baked custard with carmelized crust

crème caramel caramel cream Synonym of flan - custard lined with caramel

crème de cacao cream of cacao Chocolate-flavored liqueur

crème de la crème cream of the cream Synonymous with the English expression "cream of the crop" - refers to the best of the best.

crème de menthe cream of mint Mint-flavored liqueur

crème fraîche fresh cream This is a funny term. Despite its meaning, crème fraîche is in fact slightly fermented, thickened cream.

crêpe de Chine Chinese crepe Type of silk

critique critical, judgment Critique is an adjective and noun in French, but a noun and verb in English; it refers to a critical review of something or the act of performing such a review.

cuisine kitchen, food style In English, cuisine refers only to a particular type of food/cooking, such as French cuisine, Southern cuisine, etc.

cul-de-sac bottom (butt) of the bag Dead-end street

debutante beginner In French, débutante is the feminine form of débutant - beginner (noun) or beginning (adj). In both languages, it also refers to a young girl making her formal début into society. Interestingly, this usage is not original in French; it was adopted back from English.

décolletage
décolleté low neckline
lowered neckline The first is a noun, the second an adjective, but both refer to low necklines on women's clothing.

dégustation tasting The French word simply refers to the act of tasting, while in English "degustation" is used for a tasting event or party, as in wine or cheese tasting.

déjà vu already seen This is a grammatical structure in French, as in Je l'ai déjà vu=> I've already seen it. It can also disparage a style or technique that has already been done, as in Son style est déjà vu=> His style is not original.
In English, déjà vu refers to the scientific phenomenon of feeling like you have already seen or done something when you're sure that you haven't: a feeling of déjà vu = une impression de déjà vu.

demimonde half world 1. A marginal or disrespectful group
2. Prostitutes and/or kept women

demitasse half cup Refers to a small cup of espresso or other strong coffee.

démodé out of fashion Same meaning in both languages: outmoded, out of fashion

de rigueur of rigueur Socially or culturally obligatory
dernier cri last cry The newest fashion or trend

de trop of too much Excessive, superfluous

double entendre double hearing A word play or pun. For example, you're looking at a field of sheep and you say "How are you (ewe)?"

du jour of the day "Soup du jour" is nothing more than an elegant-sounding version of "soup of the day."

eau de cologne water from Cologne This is often cut down to simply "cologne" in English. Cologne, which is the French/English name for the German city Köln, is capitalized in the French expression.
eau de toilette toilet water Toilet here does not refer to a commode - see toilette, below. Eau de toilette is a very weak perfume.

en banc on the bench Legal: indicates that the entire membership of a court is in session.
en bloc in a block In a group, all together

encore again A simple adverb in French, "encore" in English refers to an additional performance, usually requested with audience applause.

enfant terrible terrible child Refers to a troublesome or embarrassing person within a group (of artists, thinkers, etc).
en garde on guard Warning that one should be on his/her guard, ready for an attack (originally in fencing).
en masse in mass In a group, all together
en route on route On the way
en suite in sequence Part of a set, together
esprit de corps group spirit Similar to team spirit or morale
fait accompli done deed Fait accompli seems more fatalistic to me than done deed, which is so factual.
faux false, fake I once saw an ad for "genuine faux pearls." No worries that those pearls might be real, I guess - you were guaranteed fake ones. :-)
faux pas false step, trip Something that should not be done, a foolish mistake.
femme fatale deadly woman An alluring, mysterious woman who seduces men into compromising situations
fiancé
fiancée engaged person, betrothed Note that fiancé refers to a man and fiancée to a woman.
film noir black movie Black is a literal reference to the stark black-and-white cinematography style, though films noirs tend to be figuratively dark as well (e.g., morbid, bleak, depressing, etc).
finale final In French, this can refer to either the final in sport (e.g., quarter-final, semi-final) or the finale of a play. In English, it can only mean the latter.
fin de siècle end of the century Hyphenated in English, fin-de-siècle refers to the end of the 19th century.
fleur-de-lis
fleur-de-lys flower of lily A type of iris or an emblem in the shape of an iris with three petals.
folie à deux craziness for two Mental disorder which occurs simultaneously in two people with a close relationship or association.
force majeure greater force Refers to superior/greater force, or to an unexpected or uncontrollable event, such as "an act of God" like a tornado or earthquake.
gamine playful,
little girl Refers to an impish or playful girl/woman.
gauche left, awkward Tactless, lacking social grace
genre type Used mostly in art and film - "I really like this genre..."
haute couture high sewing High-class, fancy (and expensive) clothing styles
haute cuisine high cuisine High-class, fancy (and expensive) cooking or food
hors de combat out of combat Out of action
hors d'oeuvre outside of work An appetizer. Oeuvre here refers to the main work (course), so hors d'oeuvre simply means something besides the main course.
idée fixe set idea Fixation, obsession

je ne sais quoi I don't know what Used to indicate a "certain something," as in "I really like Ann. She has a certain je ne sais quoi that I find very appealing."
joie de vivre joy of living The quality in people who live life to the fullest
laissez-faire let it be A policy of non-interference. Note the expression in French is laisser-faire.
maître d'
maître d'hôtel master of
master of hotel The former is more common in English, which is strange since it is incomplete: "The 'master of' will show you to your table."
mal de mer sickness of sea Seasickness
mardi gras fat Tuesday Celebration before Lent
matinée morning In English, refers to the day's first showing of a movie or play. Can also refer to a midday romp with one's lover.
ménage à trois household of three Sexual threesome
mot juste right word Exactly the right word or expression.
née born Used in genealogy to refer to a woman's maiden name: Anne Miller née (or nee) Smith.
noblesse oblige obligated nobility The idea that those who are noble are obliged to act noble.
nom de guerre war name Pseudonym
nom de plume pen name This French phrase was coined by English speakers in imitation of nom de guerre.
nouveau riche new rich Disparaging term for someone who has recently come into money.
nouvelle cuisine new cuisine
objet d'art art object Note that the French word objet does not have a c - you should never write "object d'art"
papier mâché mashed paper Used for art
par excellence by excellence Quintessential, preeminent, the best of the best
pas de deux step of two Dance with two people
peau de soie skin of silk Soft, silky fabric with a dull finish
petite small, short It may sound chic, but petit is simply the feminine French adjective "short."
petit-four little oven Small dessert, especially cake
pièce de résistance piece of stamina In French, this originally referred to the main course - the test of your stomach's stamina. In both languages, it now refers to an outstanding accomplishment or the final part of something - a project, a meal, etc.
pied-à-terre foot on ground A temporary or secondary place of residence.
prêt-à-porter ready to wear
protégé protected Someone whose training is sponsored by an influential person.
raison d'être reason for being Purpose, justification for existing
rendez-vous go to In French, this refers to a date or an appointment (literally, it is the verb se rendre - to go - in the imperative); in English we can use it as a noun or a verb (let's rendez-vous at 8pm).
repartee quick, accurate response The French repartie gives us the English "repartee," with the same meaning of a swift, witty, and "right on" retort.
risqué risked Suggestive, overly provocative
roman à clés novel with keys Novel with real people appearing as fictional characters
roman-fleuve novel river A long, multi-volume novel which presents the history of several generations of a family or community. In both French and English, saga tends to be used more.
rouge red The English refers to a reddish cosmetic or metal/glass-polishing powder, and can be a noun or a verb.
RSVP respond please This abbreviation stands for Répondez, s'il vous plaît, which means that "Please RSVP" is redundant.
sang-froid cold blood The ability to maintain one's composure.
sans without Used mainly in academia, although it's also seen in the font style "sans serif" => without decorative flourishes.
savoir-faire knowing how to do Synonymous with tact or social grace.
savoir-vivre to know how to live Manners, etiquette
soi-disant self saying What one claims about oneself; so-called, alleged
soigné taken care of 1. Sophisticated, elegant, fashionable
2. Well-groomed, polished, refined
soirée evening In English, refers to an elegant party.
soupçon suspicion Used figuratively like hint: There's just a soupçon of garlic in the soup.
souvenir memory, keepsake A memento
succès d'estime success of estime Important but unpopular success or achievement
succès fou crazy success Wild success
tableau vivant living picture A scene made up of silent, motionless actors
table d'hôte host table 1. A table for all guests to sit together
2. A fixed-price meal with multiple courses
tête-à-tête head to head A private talk or visit with another person
toilette toilet In French, this refers both to the toilet itself and anything related to toiletries; thus the expression "to do one's toilette" - brush hair, do makeup, etc. See eau de toilette, above.
touché touched Originally used in fencing, now equivalent to "you got me."
tour de force turn of strength Something which takes a great deal of strength or skill to accomplish.
trompe l'oeil trick the eye A painting style which uses perspective to trick the eye into thinking it is real. In French, trompe l'oeil can also refer in general to artifice and trickery.
vis-à-vis (de) face to face In French, when vis-à-vis precedes a noun and means facing, next to, or towards, it must be followed by the preposition de. In English it means "compared to" or "in relation with": vis-à-vis this decision=> vis-à-vis de cette décision.
Voilà ! There it is! Nearly every time I see this in English, it is misspelled as "voilá" or "violà."
voir dire seeing saying Jury selection
vol-au-vent flight of the wind In both French and English, a vol-au-vent is a very light pastry shell filled with meat or fish with sauce.

French has also given English scores of words in the domains of ballet and cooking. The literal meanings of the French words are (in parentheses).
Ballet terms: barre (bar), chaîné (chained), chassé (chased), développé (developed), effacé (shaded), pas de deux (two step), pirouette (turn), plié (bent), relevé (lifted)...
Cooking terms: blanch (from blanchir => to bleach), sauté (fried over high heat), fondue (melted), purée (crushed), flambée (burned)...

some addition:

vigneron - is a french word for vine grower but is also used equally in english

And how about "accoutrements"? Originally described a soldier's accessories (e.g. ammunition belt). Used to describe extra items of dress or equipment for anyone now.

Merci beaucoup pero can anybody answer the question:?

How many of these French Words & Expression that are in English are also in Italian?

vice versa - its used in french and english and italian too

i think p/s which stands for 'post scriptum' is also widely used in english, french and italians..i think??